Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-28
CLASS OF '87.
Graduating Exercises OF the
Wichita High School


Wichita High School
Satisfactory Closing Of a Profitable
Years Labors Of Precept-
ors and Pupils.
Last evening the High School commence
ment was held at Crawford's opera house.
The auditorium was crowded with people
anxious to see their young friends of the class
of ~, launched from the school out upon the
broad sea Of life.
The stage had been neatly and tastefully
arranged and decorated. Upon either side
were placed banks of beautiful
flowers and plants. In front
aad above the stage was the class motto:
"To the Victor Belongs the Palm" Above
this and in the center of the proscenium
was suspended crescent and the letter +"
SYMBOLS of the two literary socities-
Crescent and the Emersonian. In semi
circle upon the stage were seated Superln-
tendent M. Chidester, Principal o. P. Shull
and his two able assistants, Misses Dora
Wadsworth and Ruba Andre,
the members Of the graduating class, Mr..
Robert C. Sweet, Misses Ella Hellar, Anna
Mason and Rosa Oliver, Revs. w. F. Har-
per and C. ]. Adams, and the members OF
the board of education. After an impressive
invocation by Rev. Harper and selection
by the orchestra, Superintendent Chidester
arose and said: "The occasion is one
of more than ordinary importance; it is one
that can take place only in an enlightened
and intelligent community. Only where ed
ucation is recognized and loved as in re-
public. It is an occasion in which all take
an interest; not simply as commencement
exercise but as the beginning of new life
to young men and women. The public
school has taken care of them from their
early childhood to the present time. There
has been temptation and discouragements to
turn them from the path they commenced,
but they have withstood them all, and now
they are about to take of our schools their
leave"
He then introduced Mr.. Robert Sweet,
who in a clear, distinct voice delivered the
salutatory, "Now and Then"
We are, said the young speaker, glad to
welcome to this hall such large and cul-
tured audience. This occasion marks the
end of another year in one of the best
schools of the state. We have had every
advantage of an excellent labratory and
a we'll stocked and complete library. We
recognize that today we, as students, have
great advantages over those Of the past, and
the advantages we have are of interest to the
world at large as well as to the student
Then followed incidents to illustrate the sub
ject. The central part Of the United States
was the last to receive settlements, for it was
considered that here, away from the large
bodies of water, no irrigation could be found.
but people came here and they sent back It'd
ings of the rich soil to friends in the east and
soon the Great American Desert was changed
into fertile tract. Kansas was one of the
last to be settled yet it is one of the first of
the western states. Its first city is our below
ed Wichita with her improve
ments and enterprising citizens.
She is growing and prospering and soon may
she trample beneath her all the petty rivals
and stand as an example of the survival of
the fittest.
The quartet composed of Messrs Howe,
Hull, Collins and Fracken, then rendered
one of their favorite selections which was
received with applause by the audience.
Miss Ella Hellar was next introduced and
read in a most entertaining manner very
excellent essay upon the class motto, ITO the
Victor Belongs the Palm" The subject was
introduced by description of the Olympian
games and the browning with the
wreath Of leaves the victor. Is it
the intrinsic value OF the leaves that
they seek as a reward. Certainly not the
Kohinor would not have been more highly
c,,.-ized. It was the thought Of deatE...1ssss
tanes awaiting this chaplet, the thought of
ones name being proclaimed before assembled
Hellas his statue erected in the sacred graves
and his praise suny by the poets. ITO the
Victor belongs the Palms." So in
this later day we find prizes
., incentives to greater effort. In conclu-
sion-"We on lower plane have our ambi-
tions; we are just entering on the race; the
goal is beyond; may our aspirations be high
Miss Anna Mason read an original poem
"Within the power within the danger" II
was possessed of peculiar beauty and fresh
ness, and being we'll read received the high
est marks of appreciation and commenda
ton. The opening stanza was:
''Lying dormant in our minds,
| Like the young plant in the seeds,
Cooled and famed by passing winds,
| All things ministering to its needs,
Is our power to think and act,
Power of feeling, fancy, thought;
All things done with greatest tact,
| Thoughts of love to action wrought"
And in conclusion
Gas within is the Power SO the Danger
| within,
In all things the power, in danger a
| things;
The power brings fame, the danger bring
Power comes like snail, but the DANCE
on wing"
After another selection by the quartet
the Valedictory,
STANDING with reluctant feet,
Where the brook and river meet"
Was beautifully delivered by Miss Ros'
Oliver. In conclusion with feeling she said
September of last year we resumed on
studies for the last time in this school an
now time in his never varying rounds ha
brought us to the close Of another year an
today, for the last time, we have gathere